Diffuser holder for ceiling light fixtures



July 28, 1964 M. BoDlAN 3,142,447

' DIRF'USER HOLDER FOR CEILING LIGHT FIXTURES Filed July 6, 1962 2 Sheets-sheet 1 l A rromvfr July 28, 1964 M. BoDlAN 3,142,447

DIF'F'USER HOLDER FOR CEILING LIGHT FIXTURES Filed July 6, 1962 2 SheebSf-Sheet 2 FIG. 4. F/G. 6.

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@(40 b Y f 25 4l 24 30 United States Patent 3,142,447 DIFFUSER HOLDER FOR CEILING LIGHT FIXTURES Marcus Bodian, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Sunbeam Lighting Company, Los Angeies, Calif., a limited partnership Filed July 6, 1962, Ser. No. 208,065 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-147) This invention relates to bracket means for displaceably holding a framed light diffuser on a ceiling light fixture.

The principal object of the invention is to provide bracket means for tightly holding a framed light diffuser against the lower rim of a ceiling lighting fixture housing and alternatively for holding said diffuser in a downwardly disposed position to provide access to the interior of the housing for the servicing thereof. A further object is to provide for tilting of said framed diffuser in its down position to give wider access space between the diffuser frame and the lower rim of the fixture housing. These and other objects are attained by my invention, which will be understood from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings showing typical embodiments of the invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling mounted fixture showing the diffuser frame in downwardly disposed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view from the position 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the bracket means;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top elevational view taken from the position 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the toggle bars; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the adaptation of the bracket means to a cylindrical fixture housing and circular diffuser.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the lamp housing member 11 consists of vertically disposed rectangular side walls 12 and a top closure 13 forming a box which may be mounted in conventional manner to the ceiling structure or above the ceiling surface as a recessed fixture. The mounting of the lamps whether incandescent or fluorescent tubes within the box structure follows the conventional manner, being represented here by the fiuorescent tube sockets 15 holding the tubes 16.

The light diffusing member 18 consists of a light diffuser element 19 which may be of patterned diffusion glass plate or of molded synthetic plastic egg crate design. The light diffuser element 18 is mounted in a light diffuser frame 2t) which consists, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, of side members 21 which are vertically disposed and arranged in a rectangle adapted to telescope inside the side walls 12 of the housing member. The side members 21 of the diffuser frame are provided with outwardly extending fianges 22 which may press against the ceiling surface when the installation is recessed into the ceiling. The light diffusing member 18 is attached to the housing member 11 by a pair of brackets 24 which are attached to the inside of the side walls 12 on opposite sides of the housing member 11.

An over-throw toggle joint means is employed to position the elevation of the hinging link 26 which is attached 3,142,447 Patented July 28, 1964 ICC to the center pivot 27 of the toggle joint, the toggle joint itself consisting of a pair of toggle bars 28 pivoted together at the center pivot 27 and having the free ends 29 engaging in a pair of slots 30 disposed horizontally in the bracket base 24. The free ends 29 of the toggle bars are provided with tabs 31 arranged at right angles to the long axes of the toggle bar 28 so that the tabs engage respectively the two slots 30 in the bracket base 25, being retained in the slots by the right angled integral heads 32. A tension coil spring 34 is attached to the free ends of the toggle bars 28, which are provided with struck-out tongues 36 to receive the attachment loops 35 of the spring 34. The hinging link 26 consists of a stiff bar which is pivotally attached to the center pivot 27. The other end of the link 26 is formed into a hook 38 which engages holes 39 provided in the side members 21 of the light diffuser frame 2t). A guide slot 40 is provided in the bracket base 25 to direct the vertical sliding movement of the link 26, there also being provided an oppositely directed holding slot 41 in the lower edge of the bracket base so that in cooperation with the adjoining side wall 12 of the lamp housing member fixes the perpendicular position of the link member 26.

When the toggle joint means is in the lower position as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hinging link 26 holds the diffuser frame 20 in downwardly displaced position and the hooks 38 on opposite sides of the frame permit the frame to be tilted relative to the lower margin of the housing member thereby providing greater access space for serving the lamps inside the housing. The light diffuser member 18 may be entirely removed by releasing the hooks 38 from the holes 39. Where more than two opposed bracket means are provided, all of the hooks may be released except the two in opposing positions, thereby allowing the tilting of the diffuser member 18 while the lamps or electrical connections are being serviced.

When the toggle joint is in the up position as shown particularly in the broken lines on FIG. 2, the links 26 draw the diffuser frame upwardly until the flanges 22 abut the lower margin of the side walls 12 of the lamp houisng member 11.

In FIG. 9 is shown an alternative arrangement or adaptation applied to a cylindrical light fixture in which adaptation three (or optionally even more) brackets 24A may be attached to the inside of the lamp housing 11A where the parts of the toggle mechanism function in exactly the same manner as above described. Where three brackets are used as shown in FIG. 9, the hook 38 of one of the brackets may be released from the diffuser frame 20A, thereby allowing the frame to be tilted while still securely holding it to the lamp housing.

The objectives stated in the beginning have been attained.

I claim:

1. In a ceiling light fixture, a lamp housing member; a light diffusing member displaceably attached thereto; and means to limit the extent of displacement of said light diffusing member from said housing member for servicing, said means comprising at least two bracket means mounted on one of said members and having a hinging link attached to said other member, each of said bracket means consisting of a bracket base having a pair of slots slidingly engaging the outer ends of a pair of rigid toggle bars, pivot means connecting the inner ends of said toggle bars and said hinging link, and tension spring means connecting the outer ends of said toggle bars, whereby the said two members may be displaced apart or brought into close juxtaposition by the down or up overthrow position of said toggle bars.

2. In a ceiling light fixture, a lamp housing member; a light diffusing member displaceably attached thereto;

means to limit the extent of displacement of said light diffusing member from said housing member for servicing, said means comprising at least two bracket means mounted on said housing member and having a hinging link attached to said light diffusing member, each of said bracket means consisting of a bracket base having a pair of slots slidingly engaging the outer ends of a pair of rigid toggle bars, pivot means connecting the inner ends of said toggle bars and said hinging link, and tension spring means connecting the outer ends of said toggle bars, whereby the said two members may be displaced apart or brought into close juxtaposition by the down or up overthrow position of said toggle bars.

3. In a ceiling light fixture, a lamp housing member having vertically disposed side walls; a light diffusing member including a frame displaceably juxtaposed on the lower rim of said housing member; means to limit the extent of displacement of said light diffusing member from said housing member for servicing, said means comprising at least two bracket means mounted on said housing member, each having a suspended hinging link with a hook at its free end releasably engaging corresponding holes in the said light diffuser frame, each of said bracket means consisting of a bracket base having a pair of slots slidingly engaging the outer ends of a pair of rigid toggle bars, pivot means connecting the inner ends of said toggle bars and said hinging link, and tension spring means connecting the outer ends of said toggle bars, whereby the said two members may be displaced apart or brought into close juxtaposition by the down or up overthrow position of said toggle bars.

Hedges Nov. 3, 1942 Ford Jan. 20, 1959 

1. IN A CEILING LIGHT FIXTURE, A LAMP HOUSING MEMBER; A LIGHT DIFFUSING MEMBER DISPLACEABLY ATTACHED THERETO; AND MEANS TO LIMIT THE EXTENT OF DISPLACEMENT OF SAID LIGHT DIFFUSING MEMBER FROM SAID HOUSING MEMBER FOR SERVICING, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO BRACKET MEANS MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND HAVING A HINGING LINK ATTACHED TO SAID OTHER MEMBER, EACH OF SAID BRACKET MEANS CONSISTING OF A BRACKET BASE HAVING A PAIR OF SLOTS SLIDINGLY ENGAGING THE OUTER ENDS OF A PAIR OF RIGID TOGGLE BARS, PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING THE INNER ENDS OF SAID TOGGLE BARS AND SAID HINGING LINK, AND TENSION SPRING MEANS CONNECTING THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID TOGGLE BARS, WHEREBY THE SAID TWO MEMBERS MAY BE DISPLACED APART OR BROUGHT INTO CLOSE JUXTAPOSITION BY THE DOWN OR UP OVERTHROW POSITION OF SAID TOGGLE BARS. 